Washington Scientists studying sick grizzly

By Associated Press
| 1:36 p.m.Jan. 17, 2014

This photo provided by Washington State University shows a 3-year-old grizzly bear named ``Lucky’’ being given an MRI at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman, Wash.,Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. The bear was sent to the hospital from Bozeman, Mont., after suffering two grand mal seizures last week. (AP Photo/Washington State University, Henry Moore, Jr.)
The Associated Press

This photo provided by Washington State University shows a 3-year-old grizzly bear named ``Lucky’’ being given an MRI at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman, Wash.,Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. The bear was sent to the hospital from Bozeman, Mont., after suffering two grand mal seizures last week. (AP Photo/Washington State University, Henry Moore, Jr.)

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Scientists at Washington State University used an MRI to discover brain lesions in a 3-year-old female grizzly bear that has been suffering seizures.

The bear named "Lucy" came from Montana Grizzly Encounter in Bozeman, Mont.

The bear was brought to the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital on Thursday after suffering two grand mal seizures last week for no apparent reason. Since then, she has become more aggressive toward her handlers and lethargic at the same time, WSU said in a news release.

Veterinary doctors at WSU conducted an MRI evaluation under anesthesia of Lucy's head and neck Thursday, looking for a cause. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple lesions in the brain of unknown origin, WSU said.

The owners elected to treat Lucy with antibiotics for the most common forms of brain infections, WSU said. The bear will also be dewormed, as there are parasitic worms which can infect the brains of bears, WSU said.

Lucy was in stable but guarded condition Friday and would be transported back to Montana, WSU said. A Montana veterinarian will take over the care prescribed by WSU veterinary doctors.